Roofing firm chief's manslaughter

The owner of a roofing company has admitted manslaughter following the death of a 17-year-old employee who fell through a store skylight.

On the eve of a trial at Cardiff Crown Court, Roy Clark admitted the charge after the death of Daniel Dennis, of Pyle, Bridgend at Cwmbran, Torfaen.

Daniel had been in his first proper job for a week when he fell at a Matalan when working for North Eastern Roofing.

Clark, 50, from Cefn Cribwr, Bridgend, was bailed ahead of sentence.

His father, backed by the GMB union, had taken legal action for a judicial review to prosecute Clark for gross negligence manslaughter.

It overturned an original decision by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2006 not to proceed because it decided there was no realistic prospect of a conviction.

A High Court judge in December 2006 said a solicitor acting for the CPS did not take into account the "seriousness of a failure to give proper instruction not to go on the roof prior to induction or proper instruction".

An inquest jury in Newport had returned an unlawful killing verdict.

Daniel had gone onto the roof of the store looking for a piece of timber for a colleague when he fell through a skylight.

He landed on the shop floor, suffering severe head injuries and internal bleeding and later died in hospital.

The case was not opened, but adjourned for sentence on 28 April.

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